President Donald Trump made history on Tuesday, April 10, by nominating the first black woman to serve as a brigadier general in the Marine Corps, according to a Department of Defense press release.
If confirmed, Marine Corps Col. Lorna M. Mahlock will be the first black woman to serve as a brigadier general in the Marine Corps, the smallest of the four American military branches.
Currently, Mahlock serving as the deputy director of Operations, Plans, Policies, and Operations Directorate, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, District of Columbia.
Women make up 8 percent of the Marine Corps service members. That percentage is likely to increase, Gen. Glenn Walters, the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, told ABC News.
The Marine Corps accepted its first female infantry officer last year. The woman chose to remain unnamed.
The Pentagon opened all military jobs in the armed forces to women three years ago.
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the Marines, represented by a single star. There are three more ranks above the brigadier general: major general, lieutenant general, and general.
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